Verbena plant named ‘Kieverstar SC’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Kieverstar SC’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; and red purple and light pink bi-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Verbena hybrida cultivarKieverstar SC.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Kieverstar SC’.

The new Verbena was discovered by the Inventor in 1999 as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed Verbena hybridaseedling selection, not patented, in a greenhouse in Venhuizen, TheNetherlands. The new Verbena was selected by the Inventor on the basisof its unique flower color and compact growth habit.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Venhuizen, The Netherlands, since 1999, hasshown that the unique features of this new Verbena are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Kieverstar SC’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Kieverstar SC’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, and mounded planthabit.

2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.

3. Dark green-colored leaves.

4. Red purple and light pink bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the mutationparent in flower color as plants of the unnamed selection had solidpurple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the cultivarKieverbviviole, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inVenhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Verbena differed primarilyfrom plants of the cultivar Kieverbviviole in flower coloration asplants of the cultivar Kieverbviviole had light purple and violetbi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newVerbena.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Kieverstar SC’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical inflorescences and leaves of ‘Kieverstar SC’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Kieverstar SC has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercial practice during the winter andspring in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about18 to 24° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C., and light levelsabout 4,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Cuttings were planted in 12.7-cmcontainers, pinched one time, and grown for about 13 weeks. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida cultivar Kieverstar SC.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of unnamed Verbenahybrida seedling selection, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, winter and summer.—About 12 days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner.—Summer: About 21 days at 21°C. Winter: About 28 days at 21° C.

Root description.—Fine; white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Form.—Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, and mounded planthabit.

Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous and freely-branchingwith about 15 to 20 lateral branches developing after pinching; denseand bushy growth habit.

Plant height.—About 15 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 to 20 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.Internode length: About 4.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.Color: 144C.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length: About 7.5cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute toattenuate. Margin: Irregularly crenate. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Coarse, pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Youngfoliage, upper surface: 137C. Young foliage, lower surface: 146C. Fullyexpanded, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded, lower surface: 147B.Venation, upper surface: 147C. Venation, lower surface: 144D. Petiole:Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 144D.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single upright salverform bi-colored flowersarranged on terminal racemes; flowers sessile. Freely flowering withabout 28 flowers and flower buds per raceme; about two racemes perlateral branch. Inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliage.Flowers last about two to four days under greenhouse conditions. Flowersnot persistent.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flowering season.—In the garden, flowering is continuous from springuntil fall.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Height: About 3.4 cm.

Flower size: Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Tube length: About 2 cm. Throatdiameter: About 2 mm. Tube diameter, at base: About 1.5 to 2 mm.

Flower buds.—Rate of opening, from showing color to fully open flower:About 1 to 2 days. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter, apex: About 3 mm.Diameter, base: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Tubular. Color: 61A.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower fused at base. Lobelength: About 8 to 10 mm. Lobe width: About 9 mm. Shape: Roughlycordate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Velvety, smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: Towardsthe center, 61A; towards the margins, 62A. When opening, lower surface:Towards the margins and base, 69A to 69B; towards the apex, 72B. Fullyopened, upper surface: Towards the center, 71A to 72B; towards themargins, 62D. Fully opened, lower surface: Towards the center, 72D;towards the margins, 73D. Throat: 144D. Tube: 62D.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five, fused into a tube. Length: About 1.3cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Coarse, pubescent. Color, uppersurface: 143D. Color, lower surface: 143B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Upright toabout 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color: 144C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four. Anther shape: Ovoid.Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 1A. Pollen amount: Scarce.Pollen color: 10B. Pistils: Quantity: One. Pistil length: About 1.8 cm.Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 144D. Style length: About 1.6 cm.Style color: 144D. Ovary color: 144D.

Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed tobe tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2 to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named‘Kieverstar SC’, as illustrated and described.